Gordon Allport: Trait Theory

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Personality Theories Flashcards on Gordon Allport: Trait Theory, created by carlyreier on 18/10/2013.
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Flashcards by carlyreier, updated more than 1 year ago
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Allport's theory & definition of Personality Trait Theory: the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to his environment.
dynamic organization constantly changing opinions or information
Psychophysical systems system operating using the body and mind
Character personality evaluated, not moral judgement
The Raw Materials of Personality temperament, intelligence, physique
Temperament the emotional component of the personality
Type a category in which one person can be placed by another person (aggressive type)
Criteria for an Adequate Personality Theory 1. explained in internal mechanisms rather than external 2. views person as filled with variables that contribute to their actions 3. seeks motives for behavior in present rather than past 4. employs units of measure capable of living synthesis 5. adequately accounts for self awareness
measures living synthesis describes the whole dynamic person
Trait a neuropsychic structure that causes a person to consistently respond to similar environmental situations in a similar way.
criterion for a trait frequency, range of situations, and intensity of reactions
Habit v. Trait more specific than traits; habit is an activity you do often. A trait synthesizes specific habits. (brushing your teeth vs. being a cleanly person)
Attitude v. Trait A person has an attitude towards something specifically. Involve evaluation of something being positive or negative. Traits are more general.
Individual Traits possessed by a particular individual(the unique pattern of traits, not a trait only one person possesses)
Common Traits traits shared by several individuals.
Idiographic method study of the individual
Nomothetic Method Studies groups
Personal Disposition renders many stimuli functionally equivalent; initiates and guides consistent forms of behavior (similar to definition of trait)
Cardinal Disposition One word could describe a majority of the person's actions. (Don Juan)
Central Dispositions A few foci that summarize consistences in the person's behavior. (As in a recommendation letter)
Secondary Dispositions more specific range of behaviors similar to habits/attitudes, such as preferences of food and clothing.
The Proprium Organizer of the personality(equivalent to the ego) which evolves over time
Stages of development of the proprium 1. bodily "me" 2. self-identity 3. self-esteem 4. self-extension 5. self-image 6. self as rational coper 7. Propriate Striving 8. self as knower
Development: sense of self-extension child claims ownership of other things than himself (toys, parents)
Development: Emergence of Self-image conscience develops/ formulate future goals
Development: Self as Rational Coper discover thinking is a means to life's problems
Development: Emergence of Propriate Striving become future-oriented. Create long term goals to give meaning to life.
need reduction beliefs that people want to accomplish their goals to eliminate need (incorrect to Allport)
need induction healthy adults create problems by formulating future goals that can be virtually unattainable to give meaning to life.
Development: Self as Knower (Adulthood) occurs when the self is aware of/unifies/transcends the preceding seven aspects of the self; synthesizes all propriate functions
must conscience evolves out of parental restrictions and fear of punishment.
ought conscious tied to proprium striving. Things you ought to do to succeed/ follow moral compass
Functional Autonomy theory of motivation: tensions involved currently are not the same as the tensions from which the system developed.
Criterion for a Theory of Motivation 1. recognize contemporary nature of motives 2. allow for the existence of several types of motives 3. recognize importance of cognitive processes( conscious) 4. recognize each person's unique pattern of motivation
Perserverative Functional Autonomy repetitious activities blindly engaged in that once served a purpose but no longer do.
Principles of Propriate Functional Autonomy 1. Organizing energy level (energy unused, used for striving) 2. Mastery & Competence (drive induction) 3. Propriate Patterning (all motives compatible with the proprium)
Allport focused on: The healthy adult, individuality, the human element
Characteristics of a Healthy Adult 1. self-extension 2. warm human interaction 3. emotional security/ self-acceptance 4. realistic perceptions 5. self-objectification 6. unifying philosophy of life
Capacity for self-extension participate in a wide range of events/activities. Tend to be politically/religiously involved.
emotional security healthy adults have the tolerance necessary to accept the conflicts and frustrations inevitable in life.
self-objectification healthy adults have an accurate picture of their own assets and liabilities
Motives and growth of an unhealthy person Growth is stunted. Motives lie in the past. Can be helped by new experiences
Prejudice pre-judging something positively or negatively independently of facts
Extrinsic religion unhealthy religion that favors only it's members, divides the believer from others
Intrinsic religion healthy, encourages identification with all humanity. Directs the course of a person's life and development
Letters from Jenny Personal documents analyzed over a woman's lifetime were used to judge what her traits were. Used factor analysis to isolate 8 factors of her behavior.
Expressive Behavior things observed of a person's facial expression, walking style, speech mannerisms, handwriting
Scale of Values 1. Theoretical (search for truth) 2. Economic (pragmatic/relevance of knowledge) 3. Aesthetic (artistic) 4. Social (relationships) 5. Political ( attaining power) 6. Religious (seeks unity)
Concept of Humanity Culture over biology, uniqueness, free choice, teleology, optimism, conscious systems
Circularity traits describe and explain behavior. if someone acts a way in one situation, it cannot be said that the behavior is common for other situations. (suspicious once, not necessarily a suspicious person)
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